The Final Fantasy series is renowned for its lovable characters and immersive settings. Each entry follows a different path, but all have a similar goal for its characters to accomplish: travel across a vast land and stop a great evil from destroying the world.
The world of a Final Fantasy game is usually chock-full of beautiful environments, but not all are as approachable as others. Some locations seek to strike fear in all those who explore them while other more appealing areas may be home to a frightening plot point. Its friendly demeanor may not imply it outright, but Final Fantasy is home to some of the scariest moments in video game history.
7 Noctis's Search For The Crystal (Final Fantasy 15)
Noctis is usually surrounded by people who care for him, but this isn't the case during his time in Gralea. The group becomes separated shortly after infiltrating the capital, leaving Noctis to fend for himself in a city plagued by Daemons.
Though some argue the thirteenth chapter of Final Fantasy 15 is a monotonous one, it's very effective in keeping players on their toes through its scary areas and jumpscares. The level's design is claustrophobic and labyrinthian, amplifying the horrors lurking within. To make matters worse, Ardyn revokes Noctis's ability to summon the Royal Arms, forcing the young prince to rely on the Ring of the Lucii in battle.
6 Triggering The Battle Against Emerald Weapon (Final Fantasy 7)
Cloud and his companions are forced to journey on foot after leaving Midgar. It's a tiresome journey, but it pays off when they gain access to the submarine, a handy mode of transport that lets the group explore the ocean's depths. Accessing certain areas on the map requires a submarine to be used, but some are better left unchecked.
Upon reaching the seabed, there's a chance Cloud will happen upon a strange-looking green creature. Those curious enough to approach it, however, will find themselves engaged in one of the toughest fights in all of Final Fantasy 7. The twenty-minute timer may seem like the most frightening aspect of the battle, that is until Emerald Weapon launches its first devastating attack.
5 Traversing Exdeath's Castle (Final Fantasy 5)
The first visit to Exdeath's Castle presents it as a wondrous structure made entirely out of blue crystals. It's a fitting base for a powerful being, so few question its design during its exploration. It is only after returning later to confront Exdeath that the castle's true appearance is revealed.
Krile realizes there is something strange about the castle during her visit. Kelger, in response, uses his power as a Dawn Warrior to unsheathe the cloak Exdeath cast over it, unveiling the castle for what it is. Exdeath constructed the castle out of the remains of his victims, explaining its now red and fleshy interior. It may not look overly frightening due to Final Fantasy 5's charming aesthetic, but the history behind it is nothing short of terrifying.
4 The Battle Against The Daemonwall (Final Fantasy 15)
Most enemies in Final Fantasy 15 can be disposed of with relative ease thanks to Noctis's unique abilities. His royal lineage permits him to transport his body to different areas on the battlefield, making him unreachable to certain foes.
This comes in handy for most battles, but it isn't that beneficial when battling the Daemonwall. Noctis will encounter the Daemonwall during the A Wall in Our Way hunt. The creature's goal is to move forward and crush Noctis against the back wall. Unlike most enemies, this beast must be vanquished as quickly as possible to ensure the party's survival.
3 Kefka's Victory (Final Fantasy 6)
Kefka is introduced in Final Fantasy 6 as nothing more than a pawn of a greater evil. As the story progresses, however, he rises above his superiors and claims the title "Main Antagonist" with little difficulty. His first notable action sees him poisoning a town's water supply, and subsequently killing its residents.
Terra and her companions later confront Kefka for his actions, but their attempts to stop him fail, leading to the world's destruction. Kefka leaves a once thriving planet in ruins in the hope of attaining power, ruining countless lives in the process. He goes on to rule over the crumbling world until the game's climax.
2 The Final Battle With Sephiroth (Final Fantasy 7)
Sephiroth is one of the most intimidating villains in the Final Fantasy series. Cloud begins his journey in Midgar regarding the man as a hero, but certain events slowly lead him to believe otherwise. Once thought to be dead, Sephiroth has returned to take revenge on both the planet that rejected him and the man who tried to kill him.
Sephiroth is already frightening in his human form, so his monstrous transformation during Final Fantasy 7's climax is likely to evoke a whole new level of fear. His iconic theme One-Winged Angel goes a step further by capturing the gravity of the situation with its haunting melodies and eerie operatic sections. The scariest aspect of this battle, however, is Supernova, an ability Sephiroth uses to cut through multiple planets before leaving each party member at one HP.
1 Sin's Attack On Mushroom Rock (Final Fantasy 10)
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Final Fantasy 10 starts on a happy note, that is until a giant monster known as Sin attacks and destroys the city of Zanarkand. As a result of this, Tidus is transported to the unfamiliar land of Spira and is forced to search for a way to get home. He introduces himself as a Blitzball star to all those he meets, so Wakka recommends he join him on a pilgrimage to defeat Sin, believing someone might recognize him along the way.
He encounters several like-minded people who also seek to destroy Sin throughout his journey, but their biggest attempt to do so fails. The people of Spira mount a promising attack on the foe in Mushroom Rock, only for the beast to shrug their attempt off and unleash its full power, ending countless lives. The aftermath of Sin's attack all but confirms there is only one way to truly defeat it: the Final Summoning.